Is Low Carb Too Hard?
Sunday January 11, 2009
Is it really too hard to follow a low-carb diet? Recently I've been reading a lot of "official" diabetes information vis a vis carbohydrate restriction. Yes, we know that cutting carbohydrates lowers blood glucose and reduces the need for medication. Yes, we know that blood glucose control is the key to preventing complication from diabetes. And yes, low-carb diets have been endorsed by the American Diabetes Association for weight loss, if not for long-term blood glucose control.
It seems that one of the main reasons why low-carb diets aren't recommended long-term is that "they" don't believe people can or will follow them long-term. And yet, I know plenty of people who eat low-carb as a permanent way of eating (myself included) for the many benefits they receive. Is it easy? No, it is not always easy, although it certainly has gotten easier with time. Is it worth it for my health? Absolutely! What is more important than my health? One of the keys is to find low-carb substitutes for the high-carb foods I love.
How about you? Click on one of the following to vote in this poll, and then discuss it in our Low Carb Forum:
Poll: Is it too hard to follow a low-carb diet?
- Absolutely. I couldn't live without my high-carb foods, even if I found out they were damaging my health.
- I've tried cutting carbs, and it was helpful, but it's probably too much to expect myself to do it for any length of time.
- If I really was sure that too much carbohydrate was bad for me, I would permanently cut back.
- It's hard, but it's worth it. Even though I have occasional lapses, I know that low-carb is the best way for me to eat and I'm committed to continue to work at it.
- I've been following a lower-carb way of eating for quite some time, and I'm totally committed to continuing forever. At this point, it isn't very difficult most of the time.
- Other (Tell us in the comments below)
- View Results
Related Resources:
Comments
I’ve cut back on carbs, but not enough to say that I’m adhering to a low carb diet, so I’m not sure which answer to choose. I’ve cut way back on bread and most deserts, and have increased veggies and lean meat. However, I just can’t give up my chocolate, and I don’t follow the diet plan as much as perhaps I should. (I need to visit this site more regularly!) 2009 might be the year I get serious!
I think it’s important that those who try Low Carb really increase their fat intake to avoid starvation and hunger. The Nunamiuts who always eat low carb felt starvation when their prey was low on fat. They we’re never satisfied, no matter how much they eat of the nonfat meat. I think the Weston A Price document “Guts and Grease” tells us how to become as healthy as we possibly could be.
Elizabeth, everyone has a different carb sensitivity level, or glucose tolerance, or whatever you want to call it. Some people’s bodies process carbs just fine. Some need to cut back for optimum health, but it’s not super-low. Others need to cut back more. It sounds to me as though you are eating a low-carb diet, which might or might not be optimum for you.
See these links:
What is a Low-Carb Diet:
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/lcdfaq1.htm
and
How Much Carb is Right for You?:
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/carblevel.htm
It isn’t hard for me as I had to go gluten-free a number of years back. That was hard.
I chose other because, I have tried to follow a low carb diet and am such a carb addict, I failed. But, it did make me feel lighter and healthier.
Deborah
www.copd.about.com
I chose other because what works for me is low carb M-F and whatever carbs I want on the weekend.
I love the way I feel on a low-carb diet. Eating bread/cookies/candy/cake makes me sleepy and bloated. I sleep better and have more energy. I have lost 75 pounds in the last 7 months to boot! I would like to find a forum I can post to and get feedback almost daily, that has other low-carb dieters, so that I can keep up my motivation. Any ideas?
When you have a very limited budget, eating low carb is extremely difficult. Not only do I have diabetes, I am a celiac. Therefore, carbs are very bad for me. I also have others in my family to feed. I do the best I can, but sometimes it’s insurmountable.
Yes, it has been too hard for me. I just ahve not been able to force myself to stick with it. Perhaps part of my problems is that I hate to cook, and I am not going to buy and try a bunch of exotic low carb substitutes like shitake noodles.
Even though I am on the verge of being diabetic, I just can’t seem to stick to a low carb diet. I’m thinking of trying the Weight Watcher’s Momentum plan, but I’m basically just depressed about the whole thing. I feel like I am doomed; that my diabetes will progress if I don’t stop eating carbs, but I just can’t stick to it.
Yes it’s difficult but with sustained effort over a period of time, it soon becomes a way of life. The pay-off is worth the effort, no doubt about, it.
I am a confirmed carboholic.
I have followed Atkins two times, once for about six months, once for over a year, using the ketone strips and all. The first time I did not have a doctor or insurance, and started to hear bad things about low carb, so I quit. The second time I was under a doctor’s care, and he said it would be okay as long as he monitored my BUN frequently. It was always okay. The last time I was on it was in the 1970s.
Both times I lost a lot of weight, over 50 pounds. The second time, when I gave it the best shot, I got to a certain point then could not go any lower no matter what I did. I only cheated a few times. I was so low on carbs that if I ate lettuce my ketone strips would not turn. I would get such cravings, especially for fruit.
I was so bored with the limited diet, but probably would have stayed on it if I was still seeing progress. After over three months of being at the same weight and not being able to lose anymore, I gradually gave up. I was also out of work for a time and could not afford to follow the Atkins diet anymore. Of course, the weight came back.
Now I pretty much eat anything I want, not paying attention to carbs. However, I have recently been diagnosed as diabetic, and am going to need to learn to balance carbs and protein.
Gailrific, try http://forum.lowcarber.org/ Lots of support for nubies & loads of great recipes.
I find that the low carb diet is a very helpful one. It seems as if i have my life under control when eating low carb. I feel more free.
Low carb diet sets free.
Thank you for your work Laura and may God bless you for it.
I have been eating low-carb for twelve years.I never eat potatoes,rice,pasta or white flour. I eat all protein and veggies. I buy low carb, high fiber, sugar free bagels, from fl. I haven’t had to take any diabetic medication since I do not eat bad carbs. It works for me.
Gailrific … try sparkpeople.com I’ve been using it for over a year now and LOVE it, free diet plan, unlimited use.
I tried every diet out there and nothing worked. The only diet left I hadn’t tried was low carb. I went in with an attitude that there was NO WAY I could stick to it, since that would mean giving up all my favorites. But, I made a meal plan for 2 weeks, and never looked back, lost 85 pounds in 6 months and have kept it off for a year now.
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in early November, but not on medication, I kept a food diary and counted carbs. I’ve lost 22 lbs. You just have to be creative or limit portions. It’s a mind game to reorient yourself away from pasta, rice, potatoes, and all things sugary.
I have been eating low carb only since August. I wish I had started years ago. I am feeling so much better and have lost 30 pounds. I cant explain how much more energy I have.
they just said on the radio that some scientists say carbs are addictive . i can believe that. it’s hard to find quick substitutes for carbs. they come in quick convenient packages. like bread , snack bars, 2 minute noodles….they keep well outside a fridge . the list goes on. that’s why i sometimes fall back on these items. i’m addicted to the time they save as well as the taste. any suggestions?
I started the low-carb life style about 3 years ago. Recently I developed some colonic problems and was introduced to the Special Carb Diet. (Elaine Gottschall, et al.) Among other things it means no grains at all, no dairy except homemade yogurt, no coffee, and the use of almond or cashew flour for any baked goods. Consequently my cholesterol and triglycerides have risen disturbingly. Any suggestions for resolving this conflict? Getting pretty tired of white beans and tossed salads.
I have ‘modified’ my carb intake and will keep it within a certain level but have found that for me, I need a certain amount of carbs to ‘feel good’ if that makes sense. I exercise a lot and find that reducing my carbs too low makes me feel lethargic and unfocused. But definitely need to cut back because I do like my carbs - a little too much!
I laugh every single time I hear someone thinks it’s too hard to cut carbs. I lost 92 1/4 pounds in one year. I now have a total loss of 210 pound in eight years. It wasn’t easy, but my cardiologist told me that my Low-Carb diet saved my life. Do I mess up and gain weight? Yes! I fight with myself all the time, but the low carb way of eating makes it easy to get back on track.
I have been following a low carb diet for a couple of years with great results. There are moments of weakness and I am not perfect, but I know that for me this is the only way I have been able to achieve normal blood sugars without a terrible amount of effort. I have posted a free 300 page low carb recipe book especially for diabetics on my site www.dsolve.com which is built to centralize resources on carbohydrate restriction as a diabetes management mechanism.
I have come and gone with low carb eating. I can be very successful for months at a time. But, like any -holic I do fall off the wagon. At those times I feel tired and irritable, my blood pressure goes back up and I don’t do as well at work or enjoy my time at home (as much). Yet! It IS difficult to get back on track and reduce my carb intake. BUT! I do it. I come back again and again. And it is absolutely worth it. My life now is better and my health in the long run will be much better!
After this lovely film about Low Carb and diabetes by Mary C Vernon, hopefully it doesn’t feel that hard.
http://www.diabetesnewsstand.com/vissue/vernon/titlepage.html